Speech-Language Pathology

SLP Program Overview

UVM Continuing and Distance Education, in conjunction with the UVM Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, offers an online 19 credit Speech-Language Pathology Pre-Master’s Track Certificate Program (SLP Pre-Master’s Track). This program is for students interested in pursuing a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology, but who do not have the required undergraduate coursework to matriculate.

SLPA Program Overview

A slightly different sequence of courses prepares students to work in a school setting with birth – 22 year old students as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA). This SLPA Certificate Track meets all of the American Speech Language Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) guidelines for preparation of SLPAs.

The course sequence for SLPAs requires the completion of 22 credits (7 courses), with 16 credits being academically-based and 6 credits concentrating on clinical practice.

Prior to commencing the clinical coursework, students need to complete 25 hours of observation with an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. In addition, 100 hours of clinical practice, under the direct supervision of an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist or state licensed SLP, will be accrued in combination with the clinical practicum courses that end the program.

Throughout the program, students compile documents and artifacts to be included in a portfolio that demonstrates learning and understanding of the role of SLPAs in schools. The completed portfolio will be graded as part of the clinically-based coursework at the completion of the program.

You can find information regarding SLPA licensure by state on ASHA’s website here. You can find information regarding ASHA’s guidelines for SLPA preparation and scope of practice here.

Before applying to the program, check with your state’s Department of Education or Health Department for SLPA licensure requirements, which vary from state to state. Some states may require 1-2 additional courses for SLPA state licensure; often offered online through UVM.

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree and a GPA of 2.75 or higher. These are post-baccalaureate programs geared towards people with little or no educational background in the area of communication sciences and disorders.

CSD Degrees

If you are interested in pursuing a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders upon completion of the Speech Language Pathology Assistants sequence, please see the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders website for information about the graduate program and the application process.

UVM’s MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders is not an online degree and requires a separate application. It is administered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The Master’s program starts each fall and applications are due December 15. If you are considering the program, you will need to complete all of the prerequisite courses in the SLP Pre-Master’s Track (or the approved equivalent) plus 25 observation hours with an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified speech language pathologist prior to the graduate program start date. The Graduate Program Coordinator be reached at 802-656-3858 or cnhsgrad@uvm.edu.

If you are planning to apply to a Master’s program at another institution, it is incumbent upon you, the prospective student, to check with your intended college’s or university’s prerequisite requirements. This will ensure that UVM prerequisites, and this particular online course sequence, meet the requirements for admission, as requirements vary from institution to institution.

Licensure

Information regarding licensure by both the State of Vermont and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), may be found in the websites below. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to check with your state’s Department of Education for licensure requirements, since they vary from state to state.

Three million Americans and 6,000 Vermonters stutter, not because they are nervous or have emotional problems, but because they have a complex speech disorder. While the cause of stuttering is unknown, findings suggest that genetics, temperament, and differences in brain connectivity play a role.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people with master’s degrees earn a median annual salary of nearly $70,000 compared with $57,600 for those with bachelor’s degrees and $40,400 for those with associate’s degrees. They have lower unemployment as well: 3.4 percent for master’s-degree holders versus 4 percent (bachelor’s) and 5.4 percent (associate’s).

Career Spotlight

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a 42-credit online graduate program that helps you explore public health and policy issues while gaining a strong foundation in population health sciences. Our program leads to a Generalist MPH degree focused on excellence in Environmental Public Health; Quantitative Public Health Sciences; and Health Policy, Leadership, and Advocacy.

You can complete the program in two years (full-time) or up to five years (part-time). Whether you want to learn more about public health issues or seek a career in health care, research, or public health, our program can help further your goals by teaching you to:

Resources

Alumnus Warren Dibble ’89 worked his way up through the ranks at Harpoon Brewery after graduating from UVM with a degree in political science. He started as a bottler and truck driver before moving into sales and distribution management. After … The post Harpoon Brewery CFO Warren Dibble ’89 Shares the Power of Employee Engagement […]